Wedding Cake Size Calculator
Round Tiers, Standard Servings, One Guest Count
Wedding cake bakers price and size cakes around a published serving chart for round tiers, where each diameter yields a known number of "wedding-size" slices — smaller than a typical birthday-cake slice, since a tiered wedding cake is usually one of several desserts on offer. This calculator matches your guest count to that standard chart, either recommending a single tier if one covers everyone, or stacking multiple tiers in the classic tiered-cake look when the count is larger.
Standard Serving Chart
| Tier diameter | Servings |
|---|---|
| 6 in | 12 |
| 8 in | 24 |
| 10 in | 38 |
| 12 in | 56 |
| 14 in | 78 |
| 16 in | 100 |
How Tiers Are Selected
Otherwise: stack tiers largest-to-smallest (up to 4) until servings ≥ guest count;
if still short, add extra 16″ sheet cakes to cover the remainder.
Worked Examples
| Guest count | Recommended configuration | Total servings |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 1 tier: 16″ (100 servings) | 100 |
| 150 | 2 tiers: 16″ + 14″ (100 + 78 servings) | 178 |
| 220 | 3 tiers: 16″ + 14″ + 12″ (100 + 78 + 56 servings) | 234 |
The calculator always slightly over-provisions rather than cutting it close, since running out of cake mid-reception isn't recoverable the way running low on other items can be.
Where This Matters
- Ordering the right size from your baker — giving a baker the tier configuration rather than just a raw guest count speeds up the quoting process and avoids under- or over-ordering.
- Budgeting cake cost — bakers typically price per serving, so knowing the total serving count in advance lets you estimate cost before committing to a design.
- Deciding on display versus service — some couples order a smaller display cake for photos plus a separate simpler sheet cake in the kitchen for actual serving, which this chart's per-tier servings help size correctly.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the Guest Count.
- Select Calculate to see the recommended tier configuration and total servings.
Related Calculations
Plan the reception timeline around dessert service with the Wedding Timeline Calculator, or check overall catering costs with the Wedding Catering Calculator.